mini workshop course

I Was There Too | with Melissa Ortendahl

your children want to remember you

Enrollment Open: Course Run | May 13 to May 26

in this course you'll learn

How many times last year were you in a picture with your kids? When was the last time you got in the frame with your partner? Or on your own? One that wasn’t taken with a phone or in “selfie” mode? How will your children know that you were there with them when they look back on photographs of their childhood? How many years will pass before you and your partner have a picture together? As photographers, we are usually the ones behind the camera, capturing everyone else. When our well-intentioned friends and family offer to take our picture, we either decline or end up with a blurry, forced smile picture that doesn’t capture us actually in the moment with our kids. As mom’s, we are the least likely to get in the frame with our kids. We go out of our way to get pictures of our little ones with their dads, grandparents, siblings, but yet, we rarely make it a priority to be in a picture with them. We tend to reserve pictures with our partners until we hit a milestone anniversary, but what about all the years and life that happens in-between?

The “I was there too” workshop is designed to change that. Over the course of 2-weeks you will learn the technical side of how to get in the frame (using your camera’s timer, a remote, an intervalometer, focus and settings), but also how to be IN the moment with your children, with your partner, with yourself, instead of just "in the picture".

Lesson topics include:

Logistics and settings

Kids and cooperation

What to shoot and why

Indoor portraits

Outdoor portraits

Shooting in a public place

Creative ways to get in the frame

Getting in the frame with your partner

Self-Portrait Process

Editing and behind the scenes

You will get behind-the-scenes videos of Melissa getting in the frame with her kids, her partner, and on her own, her settings, her suggestions and tips, and the reality of what "getting in the frame" looks like. She will walk you through her culling and editing process and breakdown her editing process. You'll also receive access to a private Facebook group and live Q&A’s. Additionally, you will be given shooting assignments twice per week, culminating in a large week 2 assignment. All assignments will be reviewed and provided feedback by Melissa for all participants.

If you have been wanting to get in the picture with your kids but weren’t sure how to do it. If you want to have beautiful images of you with your people. If you want to have those day to day moments of you, with them, for you, and for them - join us for this workshop!

Those day to day moments of you, with them. For you & for them.

what's included:

testimonials

This was such a great course! I knew I needed help with the logistics of getting in the frame with my kids along with some inspiration and this workshop gave me both! Melissa is so helpful and available. She cheered us on through the entire course. She was also really flexible and understanding...I was in the middle of a move during the workshop.

— Sarah S.

I learned so much from this course and it was the push I needed to get in front of the camera! The course information was very thorough and easy to follow. Melissa was amazing! She was very involved, explained the assignments, made herself available for questions regularly and provided feedback on all of my images almost immediately.

— Megan M.

This Workshop was great! I was able pick up and immediately start using some new tools for personal and professional work.

melissa ortendahl

Melissa. Lifestyle and documentary photographer. Boymom. Inspired by the everyday. Embraces chaos. Thrives on creative sparks. Can be bribed with Mexican food. Always down for a deep thoughts talk, or a night out dancing. Does not embarrass easily. Can be found re-heating her coffee and wrangling her children. Work in progress.